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handle is hein.crs/goveisp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional                                                    ____
*       Research Service
Abortion Training for Medical Students
and Residents
September 7, 2022
The U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision gives states greater
discretion to restrict abortion, and a number of states have subsequently done so. This change has
implications for medical training both for medical students attending medical school and for medical
residents undertaking graduate medical education (GME) training in states with restrictive abortion
policies. To be licensed to practice independently as a physician, one must complete medical school and a
minimum of three years of GME. Though abortion training is optional for medical students, obstetrics and
gynecology (OB/GYN) GME programs must offer this training. Residents with religious or moral
objections may elect not to participate. Residents in other medical specialties, such as family medicine,
may also seek abortion training, though programs are not required to provide this training.
Changes to the availability of abortion training may have broader effects beyond the availability of
abortion services. For example, experts note that abortion training may also be useful in training providers
in general obstetrical skills, such as how to manage miscarriages, and note that the loss of abortion
training may have broader effects on the preparedness of future physicians and where they choose to
locate after they complete their training.
In the wake of the Dobbs decision, students and residents in states with restrictions may seek training in
states where abortion is permitted. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME), the entity that accredits GME programs, has revised its training requirements for OB/GYN
training programs to require that all programs, regardless of location, provide residents with access to
abortion training in jurisdictions where there are no legal restrictions on abortion. This may create a
scenario where students and residents may elect (or be required) to travel for abortion training, which may
require additional costs for trainees or their programs. Sites absorbing additional trainees may also face
challenges with expanding training, as they may require additional supervising faculty and space for new
trainees.
This Insight discusses the federal role in paying for medical training and some options that may be
considered to assist programs with accommodating increased demand for training. Physician Assistants
and nurse midwives, among others, may also seek abortion training and some of the considerations
discussed in this insight may also apply to these trainees; however, these professions are outside of the
scope of this Insight.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN12002
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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